Variety of geranium plant named `Patriot Light Pink`

ABSTRACT

The cultivar is characterized by its medium green foliage and pale pink bloom. Its strong growth habit, quick rooting time and continuous flowering provide for superb cuttings and also for quick recovery following wet weather conditions. The blooms exhibit good post-harvest quality. Patriot Light Pink performs very well either indoors or outdoors.

BACKGROUND OF THE NEW PLANT

The present invention comprises a new and distinct cultivar ofPelargonium×hortorum known by the varietal name Patriot Light Pink(Oglevee No. 1305, Bodger No. 1GM 180-7). The new variety was discoveredin a selective breeding program by David Lemon at Bodger Seeds, Ltd.,Lompoc, Calif. The new variety is a selection from the crossing ofAphrodite (unpatented) which is characterized by a white flower overmedium green foliage, with Bodger No. 1 GM 4 (unpatented) which has alavender pink flower marked with some white and dark pink veins andfurther having dark green foliage, while the claimed cultivar has anapple blossom pink flower with a white eye and dark pink veins overmedium green foliage.

The new cultivar was first asexually reproduced by cuttings at OgleveeLtd., Connellsville, Pa., and has been repeatedly asexually reproducedby cuttings at Oglevee Ltd. in Connellsville, Pa. It has been found toretain its distinctive characteristics through successive propagations.

The new cultivar, when grown in a glass greenhouse in Connellsville,Pa., using full light, 60° Fahrenheit night temperature, 68° Fahrenheitday temperature, 72° Fahrenheit vent temperature and grown in a soillessmedia of constant fertilizer 200-250 parts per million of nitrogen andpotassium has a response time of six weeks from the rooted cutting to aflowering plant in a 10.0 cm pot.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The accompanying drawings illustrate the new cultivar, the colorsdepicted being as nearly true as possible with color illustrations ofthis type.

Sheet 1 represents a side view of the new cultivar.

Sheet 2 is a top view.

DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW PLANT

The following detailed description sets forth characteristics of the newcultivar. The data which defines each characteristics was collected fromasexual reproductions carried out by Oglevee Ltd. in Connellsville, Pa.The plant histories were taken on rooted cuttings believed to have beenpotted on approximately Feb. 1, 1996 and flowering on approximately Mar.14, 1996 under full light and greenhouse, and colorings were takenindoors under 200-220 foot candles of fluorescent cool white light usingthe R.H.S. Colour Chart of The Royal Horticultural Society of London.

The Plant

Classification:

Botanical.--Pelargonium×hortorum.

Commercial.--Florist's Geranium Patriot Light Pink (Florist's geraniumsare a high quality plant which also grows well outdoors).

Form: Semi-dwarf mound.

Height.--20-33 cm above media.

Growth.--Free basal branching.

Strength.--No artificial support needed.

Foliage: Stalked leaf attachment.

Leaves:

Size.--8-10.5 cm across.

Shape.--Reniform; cordate base.

Margin.--Crenate.

Texture.--Smooth, pubescent, slightly reflective.

Color.--Top: Green group 137A at outer edge to green group 137C nearcenter. Bottom: Yellow-green group 147B. Zone: None prominent; leaf zonepresence is not distinct from a distance, however, variation in thedepth of color where the zone typically occurs, is present.

Ribs and veins.--Palmate venation: Color: Yellow-green group 144B.

Petioles:

Length.--6.0-7.2 cm.

Color.--Yellow-green group 144B.

Stem:

Color.--Yellow-green group 144B.

Internodes.--1.8-3.0 cm.

The Bud (Umbel)

Shape: Upright, hemispherical cluster.

Size: 3.5-4.0 cm across.

Inflorescence

Blooming habit: continuous, free and early flowing.

Borne: Floret on pedicel; pedicel and peduncle 8-12 cm above foliage.

Closed florets:

Bud size.--(1.1×0.6) to (1.6×0.8) cm; showing color.

Size.--Fully open bloom: 7.0-10.0 cm across.

Open florets:

Form.--Semi-double (these plants typically have 5-6 petals plus 3-8petaloids which form a semi-double floret), open and flat to slightlycupped; 38 florets per inflorescence appearing.

Color.--Top: Overall shade is red-purple group 73C with slight veiningof red-purple group 68C from the center of floret that fades into thered-purple group 73C. Bottom: Veins of red group 55A running through apale red-purple group 65D. Eye: White group 155D with white group 68Cveins in white eye which seem to disappear into the petal color uppersurface of petal.

Petals.--5-6 in number.

Size.--3.5-4.0 cm across.

Texture and appearance.--Delicate light pink flower on medium greenfoliage.

Petaloids:

Quantity.--3-8 (however petaloid number is highly variable with age ofthe plant and cultural conditions).

Shape.--Pinched; feathered; puckered (irregular) some almost having apetal shape but being distorted; some with anthers attached.

Color.--Top: Red-purple group 73C. Bottom: Red-purple group 65D withveins of red group 55A.

Pedicel:

Length.--2.3-2.9 cm in length.

Color.--Yellow-green group 145A; many with blush of greyed-purple group183D; some have blush along entire pedicel, others more near floret.

Peduncle:

Length.--15-18 cm.

Color.--Yellow-green group 144A.

Persistence:

Disease resistance.--Not known.

Lasting quality.--Slow to shatter, holds up well outdoors.

Reproductive Organs

Stamens:

Anthers.--0.2 cm in length.

Filaments.--Length: 0.5-0.7 cm. Color: White.

Pollen.--Greyed-orange group 169A.

Pistils:

Number.--One.

Length.--0.8 cm in length.

Stigma.--4-5 parted. Color: Closed -- outside color is red group 53C.Open -- inner color is red group 51B.

Style.--Length: 0.5 cm.

Ovaries:

Color.--Green, superior, pubescent.

Length.--0.4 cm.

Fruit: None.

General Characteristics

Patriot Light Pink brings a new color to the current geranium market.The pale pink color is accented by the medium green foliage whichcreates an illusion of a zone when observed up close. Cutting productionand rooting time is very quick. Both indoor and outdoor performance isexceptional.

I claim:
 1. A new and distinct variety of Geranium plant, substantiallyas shown and described.